Kobe Bryant Announces He Will Retire At The End of This Season [Video]

Kobe Bryant broke the news over the weekend that this year would be his last, with a poem, and a emotional press conference.

Kobe spent his entire 20 year career in a Laker uniform, but injuries have finally caught up to the Black Mamba.

Over those 20 years, Kobe has racked up a very impressive resume.

• 5 NBA Championships
• 2 NBA Finals MVP's
• 1 NBA MVP
• 2 NBA Scoring Championships
• 17 NBA All-Star Games
• 4 NBA All-Star MVP's
• 12 All NBA Defensive Team
• 1 NBA Slam Dunk Championship

Kobe has often been compared to Jordan, and most people think he modeled his game after Jordan.

Kobe wrote a poem that summarized his feelings for the game he loved, and published it in The Players Tribune.

"Dear Basketball,

"From the moment
I started rolling my dad’s tube socks
And shooting imaginary
Game-winning shots
In the Great Western Forum
I knew one thing was real:

"I fell in love with you.

"A love so deep I gave you my all —
From my mind & body
To my spirit & soul.

"As a six-year-old boy
Deeply in love with you
I never saw the end of the tunnel.
I only saw myself
Running out of one.

"And so I ran.
I ran up and down every court
After every loose ball for you.
You asked for my hustle
I gave you my heart
Because it came with so much more.

"I played through the sweat and hurt
Not because challenge called me
But because YOU called me.
I did everything for YOU
Because that’s what you do
When someone makes you feel as
Alive as you’ve made me feel.

"You gave a six-year-old boy his Laker dream
And I’ll always love you for it.
But I can’t love you obsessively for much longer.
This season is all I have left to give.
My heart can take the pounding
My mind can handle the grind
But my body knows it’s time to say goodbye.

"And that’s OK.
I’m ready to let you go.
I want you to know now
So we both can savor every moment we have left together.
The good and the bad.
We have given each other
All that we have.

"And we both know, no matter what I do next
I’ll always be that kid
With the rolled up socks
Garbage can in the corner
:05 seconds on the clock
Ball in my hands.
5 … 4 … 3 … 2 … 1

"Love you always,
Kobe"